The Malayan are divided into two, Nattu Malayan and Konga Malayan. The ‘Nattu Malayan’ are considered as the natives of the State of Kerala and the ‘Konga Malayan’ have a history of migration from the forests of Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu. There is a slight variation in the dialects of Konga Malayan and Nattu Malayan i.e., The Konga Malayan speaks the dialect of Tamil and the Nattu Malayan speaks a dialect of Malayalam. Each clan has its deity among the Konga Malayan, and Karumala Muppan, Mallambara Andan, Nayiyhi Athal, Manakkadamma, and Paliyamma are the clan deities of Konga Malayan, besides Mariyamma who is the traditional goddess of the community. and There is a slight variation in the dialects of Konga Malayan and Nattu Malayan i.e., The Konga Malayan speaks the dialect of Tamil and the Nattu Malayan speaks a dialect of Malayalam. The elder members of the community have an excellent knowledge of agriculture as most of the community members were agricultural labourers in the recent past. The community members also have a good knowledge about the non-timber forest products and their collection.
Thiyyatam is one of the traditional art forms of the community As per the socio-economic status report of Scheduled Tribe Development Department, the total population of the community was enumerated as 5550. As per the 2011 census, the literacy rate of the community is noted as 64.4 The work participation is enumerated as 49.2